Dangote’s N7bn Allegation: NMDPRA Boss, Farouk Ahmed, Resigns

The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Engineer Farouk Ahmed, has resigned following allegations of corruption and economic sabotage leveled against him by billionaire Aliko Dangote.

Dangote accused Ahmed of spending $5 million (about N7 billion) on secondary school education for his four children in Switzerland, questioning whether such expenditure matched his income as a public servant. Ahmed has not publicly responded, but his resignation comes amid mounting pressure over the claims.

In a Statehouse release, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu confirmed Ahmed’s exit and also announced the resignation of Engineer Gbenga Komolafe, head of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). Both men were pioneer leaders of the agencies created under the Petroleum Industry Act in 2021.

President Tinubu has nominated Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as CEO of NMDPRA and Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan as CEO of NUPRC, pending Senate approval.

Eyesan, an economist and University of Benin graduate, retired in 2024 as Executive Vice President, Upstream, at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) after 33 years of service.

Mohammed, a Chemical Engineering graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, has held top roles at Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company, Nigerian Gas Company, and NNPC subsidiaries.

He was instrumental in projects such as the Escravos–Lagos Pipeline Expansion, the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano Gas Pipeline, and Nigeria LNG Train developments.

“Their leadership will ensure continuity and strengthen reforms in the sector,” said Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.

The Senate is expected to deliberate on the nominations in the coming days.